Signaling device



Z. E. MOHTON. SIGNALING DEVICE. APPLICATION FILED MAY 23, I9I9.

Patented Feb. 15, 1921.

.2 SHEETS-SHEET l- @WIM/woo eo Z. E. MORTON.

SIGNALING DEVICE.

APPLICATION man MAY 23. 1919.

Patented Feb. 15

1921. 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.A

.m w n 3 atto-:mma

stares ZEAN IVIORTON, OF SEIATNEE, OKLAHOMA.

SIGNALNG DEVCE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. i5, 192i.

To all whom it may concerny Be it known that l, ZEAN E. MonToN, acitizen of the United States, residing at Shawnee, in the county ofPottawatomie and State of Oklahoma, have invented new and usefullmprovements in Signaling Devices, of which the following is aspecification.

The present invention has reference to signaling apparatus and isdesigned particularly for use by railroad men to enable them to signalbyrmeans of a lantern, torpedoes or fusees as the exigencics of a caserequire.

The improvement contemplates the employment of an ordinary railwaylantern employed for signaling purposes having a'ssociated therewithreceptacles for fusees or flares, torpedoes and matches for lighting thefusees or flares, all of the recptacles being provided with suitableclosures whereby the contents thereof will be protected from weatherconditions as well as from contact byjunauthorized persons, but at thesame time being readily accessible for use by the operator, and thearrangement of the receptacles being such as to in nowise interfere withthe display of the light of the lantern.

The foregoing objects, and others which will appear as the nature of theinvention is better understood may be accomplished by a construction,combination and operative arrangement of parts such as is illustrated bythe accompanying drawings.

In the drawings:

Figure l is a perspective view of my improved signaling apparatus.

Fig. 2 is an end elevation looking toward the match receptacle, partsbeing broken away and parts being in section.

Fig. 3 is a horizontal sectional view approximately on the line 3-3 ofFigl.

Fig. 4 is a sectional view approximately on the line -'t of Fig. 2.

Fig. 5 is a horizontal sectional view approximately on the line 5-5 ofFig. l, the door of the torpedo receptacle being shown in its openposition.

The lantern construction of my improvement includes a preferablycylindrical base l0 closed at both the top and bottom thereof but havingits side provided with an elongated opening 1l normally closed by a door12. The door, of course, conforms to the peripheral shape of the baseand has one of its ends provided with a substantially U-shaped extension13, the connecting element for the arms whereof being approximatelycentrally formed with an outstanding or offset portion 14. This odset isengaged by a spring tongue l5 formed centrally on one end of a plate 16which is secured to the base l0. The tongue is preferably formed byslitting the plate longitudinally, and the plate, to the opposite sidesof the tongue is rounded upon itself as at l? to receive the portions ofthe U-shaped member to the opposite sides of the offset 11i. Theopposite or free end of the door l2 is provided with a linger piece 18whereby the said door may be swung to open or closed position. The hingeconnection between the door and the base is such as to effectivelyholdtlie door closed or likewise effectively hold the door in openposition.

The base l0 provides a receptacle for theI torpedoes i9. The closed top2O of the base or receptacle lO is preferably provided with a centralround opening which receives therethrough a cup-shaped member 2l, the

latter being hanged at its outer portion as.

at 22 to overlie the top of the base, and this flange 22 is peripherallyprovided with an upstanding collar 24 which is perforated and which hassecured to the outer edge thereof the vertical strands of wire of theprotector frame 25 for the globe or chimney 2G of. the lamp. lLhecup-shaped member 21 provides a receptacle for the oil bowl 27 that isprovided with the usualburner lia-ving the usual means for regulatingthe wick, the last mentioned element passing through a suitable notch.in the upper edge of the collar The collar 24 is provided with aninturned annular flange or ring 28 on which the shade or globe rests.rhe shade or globe is secured on the device by the usual hinged capmember 29 which is latched to the upper horizontal ring mem- '.ieuueuipgnsn erp ur einer; erp, gro Og .req The bottom of the base member orreceptacle l0, indicated for distinction by the numeral 3l is elevatedabove the lower edge of the said receptacle, and is preferably centrallyprovided with an opening 32 to permit air entering the said receptacleand to circulate around the cup-shaped member 2l and the torpedoes inthe receptacle.

The top of the receptacle l0 is provided with any desired number ofoutstanding plate-like members 33, which are preferably arrangedradially with respect to the receptacle. These plate like members 33provide the base portions for the tubes 34 in which the fusees or flares35 are received.

Y rl`he base plates 33 are each provided with that more may be employedif desired.

tween the oppositely disposed pairs of tubesv A,suspended vfrom aiflexible element in the Ynature of a small chain 46 that isconnected anopening 36 therethrough, and through these openings pass the stems 37of' the fuseesV or ares. The tubes 34 Vare connected to one of thehorizontal ring members 3S of the frame through the medium of yokemembers 39, the latter being soldered or otherwise secured to the tubeswhich they surd round, and the ends ofthe yokes are wrapped aiound vthering member 38 and tected. rlhe tubes `are of a length less than that ofthe fusees or flares, so that the upper or outer ends of the saidlfusees or flares project a suitable distance beyond the Vopen outerends of the tubes. Such projecting ends of the fuseesor flaresare',however,fully `protected by the cap members 40 when the latter arearranged over the tubes, The cap membersrare 'of a length to permitfuseesor Y iiares of varying lengths being received in the tubes, and byproviding the flexible connections between the tubes and caps dangerofloss or misplacement of the caps is thus obviated.

In the drawings four fusee receiving tubes are illustrated,'but,` ofcourse, it is obvious is arranged theV bail-shaped handle 42 for thelantermtlie latter having its ends connected tothe frame 25 and havingits handle portionfin the nature Vof a'coil spring 43.

Secured to the top of the receptacle 10, toV the collar 24,7and if'desired to the inner or j Yconfronting sides of two of the tubes 34 isanangularly disposed cylindrical receptaclel44 for matches. .lhe matchreceptacle ,44 is arranged at an upward inclination and is normallyclosed by a tubular cap 45 which is to one of the tubes 34. In thismanner the Vcontents ofthe match receptacle are fully viding effectiveprotectors for the i'iusees,Y

torpedoes and matches wherein such articles may be readily accessiblefor immediate use, and that the arrangement of the receptacles for suchdevices sothat the same will in no manner interfere with the light fromthe lantern, and wherein the ybowl ofthe lantern may be readily removedJfor filling, the globe thereof removed for cleaning will be vfullyappreciated by those skilledvin therart to which this inventionappertains, so that. a detailed description thereof ord-a furtherdescription of t-he `invention will not be necessitated. Y Y

` It should be stated that the grip portionl 43 of the handle is formedby centrally coiling the wire member from which the handle is formed.This coiled portion stiffens the handle as well as affording a bettergrip for the holder.

' Having thus described the invention, what Y l is claimed'as new, is Yi In a signaling apparatus, a receptaclefor torpedoes, having anelevated bottom pro- Vvided with anopening, an opening inthe sidethereof, a spring influencedihinged door normallyclosingsaid lastmentioned opening, a cup member entering from the center of theclosedtop of thel receptacle having an outer collar and a skeletonframesecured to the collar, said cuprmember designed to receive the bowlrof alamp and the frame serving asa protector for the globe ofthe lamp, ahandle securedto thejframe, tubes arranged to thefopposite sidesof thehandle and* havingapertures inthe closed ,bottoms thereof,said tubes`designed lto receive `fusees therein ,andthe stems of the fuseesdesigned to' pass. through the apertures in the closed l bottom ofthetubes, tubular cap members for closing the tubes, flexible elementsconnecting `the cap Amemberswith Vthe respective tubes, aninclinedrece'ptacle Vsecured to the topV of the` torpedo Yreceptaclearranged bef tween two of thetubesnand connectedf to said torpedoreceptaclaanda capfor said last mentioned receptacle.

ln testimony whereof I'afliX-niy signature.

Y, ZEAN'E. MORTQY ice

